Armed Forces Residency Benefit

Eligibility:

Currently serving members in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard), spouses and dependent children who are:

• Active Duty
• Reserves
• Kansas Army or Air National Guard 
  • Note: If you are in the Guard in another state, you cannot apply for residency through this section. See the prior-service veterans, spouses, dependents, & VA benefits users criteria to see if you are eligible.

Process:

Provide one of the following by the 30th day of the semester being requested: 

• A copy of current orders.
• Your most recent LES.
  • If you are National Guard, you will also need to provide proof of service in the Kansas Air/Army National Guard (e.g. a memo from your unit, etc.)
• ROTC: a copy of current contract for enlistment or reenlistment in the Armed Forces.

If spouse or dependent child, also provide documentation verifying relationship to service member (i.e. birth certificate, tax returns, military dependent ID) if not listed on the orders.

You must begin this process by the 30th day of the semester being requested. Retroactive requests will not be approved. If you are experiencing a delay in obtaining required documents, please contact us.

Submit your documentation by using the online Armed Forces Residency form. Your KU Online ID is required to log-on to the form.

To retain residency status:

Maintain continuous enrollment (except summer terms & breaks)

Eligibility

Veterans, spouses and dependent children who meet at least one of the following three conditions:

• Currently eligible to receive a VA educational benefit (i.e. GI Bill® Chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, 1606); or
• Veteran was permanently stationed in Kansas during service in the Armed Forces; or
• Veteran had established Kansas residency prior to joining the Armed Forces;

AND are living in Kansas while attending KU;

AND submits a letter of intent to establish residence in Kansas

Process

Note: for these steps, KU Online ID login required ·

• Complete the statement of intent web form by the 30th day of the semester being requested and upload any of the following to the form:
  • VA GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits
  • DD-214 or other documentation showing proof of prior Kansas residency
  • Any official military documents showing a Kansas location as a permanent duty station
• Update your "current or Jayhawk address" in KU Enroll & Pay to a Kansas address.
  • If you do not have a Kansas address at the time you submit the statement of intent web form, we can conditionally approve your residency status pending your Kansas address. You will need to enter your Kansas address as your “current” or “Jayhawk” address in KU Enroll & Pay no later than 1 week before classes start. If you do not meet this deadline, your conditionally awarded in-state tuition rate will convert to out-of-state. If this happens, you will have until the 30th day of the semester to update your address and regain in-state status. If you do not, you will owe out-of-state tuition for the entire semester.
• If spouse or dependent child, also provide documentation verifying relationship to veteran (i.e. birth certificate, tax returns, military dependent ID) if not already listed on one of the aforementioned documents.

You must begin this process by the 30th day of the semester being requested. Retroactive requests will not be approved. If you are experiencing a delay in obtaining documents from VA, please contact the Military-Affiliated Student Center.

To keep residency status:

Maintain continuous enrollment (except summer terms & breaks), AND

Maintain physical presence residence in Kansas during enrollment

Per Kansas state law, you must be enrolled to receive the Armed Forces Residency Benefit (AFRB) and submit the required documents/information. This requires having a KU login. Visit either the steps for current service members, spouses, dependents or the steps for veterans, spouses, dependents for what you need to do for AFRB. If you have questions, contact us.

Your out-of-state merit scholarship will convert to the in-state equivalent. No action is needed on your part. Visit the freshman scholarships page to see the in-state equivalent. While the in-state scholarships are a lot lower, your tuition rates are also a lot lower. The out-of-state merit scholarships are just designed to bring your tuition closer to the in-state rates, so it’s a better deal to get in-state residency and the in-state merit scholarships.

You can still submit the statement of intent webform. If you meet all other criteria, we can conditionally approve your residency status pending your Kansas address. You will need to enter your Kansas address as your “current” or “Jayhawk” address in KU Enroll & Pay no later than 1 week before classes start. If you do not meet this deadline, your conditionally awarded in-state tuition rate will convert to out-of-state. If this happens, you will have until the 30th day of the semester to update your address and regain in-state status. If you do not, you will owe out-of-state tuition for the entire semester.

If you have not yet applied for VA benefits, visit the VA's website and apply. The VA will mail you a COE 4-8 weeks after you've applied.

If you have applied but cannot locate your COE, get a copy of Post-9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits or, for all other GI Bill users: Click the "Ask a Question" button (VA login required) on the GI Bill website and submit a query for the VA to mail copy of your COE.

While you can't apply for the for the Armed Forces Residency Benefit (AFRB) as a current servicemember (per Kansas law), you can look at the veterans/spouses/dependents criteria, if applicable. For example, if you are using Ch. 1606 Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve or another VA education benefit and will live in Kansas while attending KU, you can apply for AFRB under the veterans/spouses/dependents section. 

It depends. 

Current service members/spouses/dependents who apply for the Armed Forces Residency Benefit (AFRB): where you live does not matter. 

Veterans/spouses/dependents: if you have the Post-9/11 GI Bill at the 100% rate you may be eligible to apply for Yellow Ribbon while using the GI Bill. Otherwise, it is a requirement for students to live in Kansas while attending KU to receive AFRB.

You do not need to apply for AFRB since your program is a flat rate regardless of residency status. You only need to apply if you see “out-of-state” indicated on your tuition charges on your KU bill. Contact us if you’d like to confirm that you’re in a flat-rate program.

Yes - Yellow Ribbon covers the difference between out-of-state and in-state tuition so is only for students who do not meet the Armed Forces Residency Benefit criteria who are being charged out-of-state tuition. 

If you plan to live in Kansas while attending KU, you will not need Yellow Ribbon - apply for in-state tuition rates per AFRB instead. You must be a Post-9/11 GI Bill user at the 100% rate to use Yellow Ribbon. 

If you are using Post-9/11 GI Bill at 100% and live in Missouri (or another state) while attending classes at KU, please complete the Yellow Ribbon Application  each year you have benefits. This benefit is only good for as long as you have GI Bill benefits. 

Yellow Ribbon is a VA program only for Post-9/11 GI Bill users. 

No, you get to keep your residency status as long as you:

• Maintain continuous fall/spring enrollment (you can take summers off), and
• (For veterans/spouses/dependents) Continue to live in Kansas while attending KU (you can go home over breaks/summer)

Yes, if you have to reapply to KU, you will have to reapply for AFRB.

The one exception is if you were called to active duty, completed a military withdrawal, and returned within 3 semesters.

Please visit the Kansas Board of Regents Residency Rules and Regulations site for the statute.